'Hope' director says film was inspired by 'ominous' feeling about the world

Director Na Hong-jin poses during a photocall for the film "Hope" in competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 18. Reuters-Yonhap

Na Hong-jin, the director behind the sci-fi thriller "Hope," said the sense of looming danger he felt about the world inspired him to make the film that has been invited to compete at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

"Hope" portrays the sudden appearance of mysterious entities in a small coastal town near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, with its star-studded cast including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.

"Around the world, I felt there were a lot of ominous things in this planet where mankind lives," Na said in an interview held Monday on the sidelines of the film festival, which is under way through May 23.

"It felt like that a war was about to happen, or that tremendous violence would mercilessly blanket the whole world," he said, noting that the film portrays how violence emerges and grows bigger.

Na said he is extremely happy and feels honored about "Hope" making it to the competition section of the prestigious film festival.

"I feel really good and joyous about the fact it made it on the list. I didn't realize I would feel this good and honored," he said.

"Hope" will vie for the top honor at this year's Cannes, alongside 21 other titles invited to the competition section.

It is the first Korean film in four years to compete for the Palme d'Or since renowned director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and "Broker" by award-winning Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda, a film produced by Korean companies and starring Korean actors, were both invited to compete in 2022.

For Na, "Hope" is his fourth feature work that has been invited to Cannes. His feature debut, "The Chaser," was screened in the Midnight Screenings section in 2008, followed by "The Yellow Sea" in Un Certain Regard in 2011. "The Wailing" was also invited to the festival's noncompetition section in 2016.